• 7,852 replies
    admin
    Joined:

    "When we began discussing audio projects to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead back in 2012, we knew we wanted to do something completely unprecedented. We could think of nothing more exciting or ambitious than a career-spanning overview of the band's live legacy focused on what best tells the story: complete concerts. Our first criterion was the very best live music to represent any given year in the band’s history. We wanted to make sure that there were not only the tent-pole shows that fans have been demanding for decades but also ones that are slightly more under the radar, but equally excellent. For those who listen to the entire box straight through, chronologically, the narrative of the Grateful Dead's live legacy will be seen as second to none in the pantheon of music history." - David Lemieux

    We are more than pleased to announce the Grateful Dead's most ambitious release ever: 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN. Available as both an 80-disc boxed set and a custom lightning-bolt USB drive, the collection includes 30 unreleased live shows, one for each year the band was together from 1966 to 1995, along with one track from their earliest recording sessions in 1965. Packed with over 73 hours of music, both the boxed set and the USB drive will be individually numbered limited editions.

    The 80-disc boxed set is individually numbered and limited to 6,500 copies, a nod to the band’s formation in 1965. Along with the CDs, it also includes a gold-colored 7-inch vinyl single which bookends the band’s career. The A-side is “Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)” from the band’s earliest recording session in 1965 with the B-side of the last song the band ever performed together live, “Box Of Rain” recorded during their final encore at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 9, 1995.

    The box also comes with a 288-page book that features an extensive, career-spanning essay written by Nick Meriwether, who oversees the Dead archives at the University of California, Santa Cruz, along with special remembrances of the band submitted by fans. Also included is a scroll that offers a visual representation of how the band’s live repertoire has evolved through the years.

    The USB drive version* will be shaped like a gold lightning bolt with the Grateful Dead 50th anniversary logo engraved on the side. The drive includes all of the music from the collection in both FLAC (96/24) and MP3 formats and is an individually numbered limited edition of 1,000 copies. Digital version of the book also included on USB.

    Shows will NOT be sold individually on CD. This release is sure to sell out quickly so pre-order your copy today and stick around as we will be revealing a mighty fine selection of music, art, and much, much more right here.

    (Looking for a smaller 50th Anniversary commemorative keepsake? September 18th will see the release of a four-CD version of the collection titled 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN: THE DEFINITIVE LIVE STORY 1965-1995. More on that here.)

    ROLLINGSTONE.COM SONG PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE DAVID LEMIEUX INTERVIEW
    Head on over to Rollingstone.com for the very first listen of "Morning Dew" 9/18/87 Madison Square Garden, David Fricke's exclusive interview with archivist David Lemieux, and the reveal of 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN's '69 and '84 shows.

    *Helpful hints for using your USB:

    Running the 30 Trips Player / Reader program:
    On Windows – Navigate to the USB drive and double click the PCStart.exe file to run.
    On MacOS – Open the GD 30 Trips drive, and double click the MacStart to run.

    Viewing the digital book:
    You can either view it within the program that comes on the drive, or by opening the PDF directly.

    To view the PDF, open the PDF folder on the drive and the USB_bk_spreads_08-31 file within. Selecting the option within your PDF reading application to view as a “single page” might be preferable to viewing as a continuous document.

    Importing music into iTunes and other library programs:
    When you import the songs from the USB into your library, the information used to identify the track will likely leave them sorted incorrectly. Please use the song list found here to re-number the songs for each show so that they playback in the correct order.
    PDF
    Text

Comments

sort by
Recent
Reset
  • supe80
    Joined:
    Box Art Work
    I hope someone hasn't asked this already. Does anyone know who did the artwork for the outside of the box?
  • johnny361
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    hi gang
    I spent the day with Cobo 1976. I really like these fall 76 shows with Dicks #20 being a personal favorite since it's release many years ago. This Cobo show is really growing on me with each listen. 30 Trips has been a monster to get through but I love the task! There are still shows I haven't spent time with.. but I will!
  • KYTrips
    Joined:
    1975
    So... this is another show that's a bit tough to grade. It's relatively short for a Dead show (I think it was just one long set), and I'm guessing that they were part of a bill that included other bands at this free show in Golden Gate Park. Also, it's one of only 4 shows that they played in 1975, so I'm guess they were a bit rusty, though you wouldn't think so from the performance itself. It starts off with a really sold Help > Slipknot that sounds a bit strange without the third jewel of Franklin's Tower, but that comes later in the show. Then there's a long break as the band attempt to summons a doctor from the crowd because a woman is apparently having a baby somewhere near/behind the stage. This alone makes the show memorable. They then move into a really, really good Music Never Stopped, followed by They Love Each Other. Beat It On Down the Line is above-average, in my opinion and it's followed by a good Franklin's Tower. Big River is straightforward, and the first disc ends with a routine It Must Have Been the Roses. The second disc starts off with an above-average Truckin' followed by a good jam and Drums. That heads into an excellent Stronger Than Dirt/Milkin' the Turkey which eventually leads into 10+ minute Not Fade Away which is light on lyrics and strong on jamming. The show ends with Going Down the Road Feeling Bad and a very energetic One More Saturday Night. The highlight of this show for me is the Music Never Stopped, but there really are no off numbers in the entire show. It's a consistently good show from start to finish. Overall Grade: B
  • unkle sam
    Joined:
    1990 1994
    Just returned from a long road trip and listened to these two shows in their entirety during this trip. 1994 was the first listen. Show starts off with a nice Help>Slip>Franklins that is nice, Jerry in good form and everyone contributing their parts, not the best, but not bad. Then Walkin blues, not my favorite and Bobby's slide work is ok at best, then Atlhea, a good tune done well by Jer. Me and My Uncle, Big River and Just like Tom Thumb's Blues, no real Jerry in MAMU, BR just ok and JLTTB's has Phil taking lead vocals, enough said. An ok So Many Roads and Jerry sounds tired, voice a bit shaky and "old Jerry" sounding. Promised Land is good, with Bobby in fine voice, which ends the first set. Second set starts off with Scarlet>Fire, scarlet is ok but the Fire is grate, with Jerry getting his voice to perform about as good as it can get for these days. Way to go Home is next and I always liked this song, Vince in fine form throughout with Jerry adding some fine lead lines. Then into Saint of Circumstances, no Lost Sailor which I miss and wish they would not have dropped from the list, it's the better of the two tunes. A nice Terrapin with Jerry hitting all the notes and lyrics into a short but very trippy drums into an excellent space with Jerry showing us all that he can still blow heads away. Everytime there is "The last time" after a drums>space you know it was a great drums>space, like you know this could be the last time you ever hear that wonderful sound again. A good but short Stella with Jerry sounding tired in both voice and playing into a good OMSN. The encore is Liberty, a great tune that Jerry flubs the lyric on, but comes back and repeats it right. Thought the sound was ok, but a little boomy All in all a good show but....C+. 1990, good first set with a great Jack-a roe black throated wind ramble on rose and bird song, Jerry in fine voice and playing with bruce on the piano making it all sound nice. The second set here is very good, Chinacat, rider and saint all done well, very deliberate and a bit on the slower side, which is nice. At Crazy fingers and this is where it starts to get real good, the ending jam in Crazy Fingers has a bit of the x factor and was very nice then into Playing>drums>space>playing reprise, just awesome all of it, I highly recommend it. The stella is very nice into throwing stones into a great NFA with crowd chant into a fine one more Saturday nite. All in all a good show from France. The sound was ok, but had a bit of an echo in spots, not sure if it was the audience singing along or an echo, but was a bit distracting in places, a bit boomy in parts also, but all in all, not bad....a solid B. I haven't had time to get to all of them, but these two I took along just to give them a good listen, was not disappointed. For the 90's, both shows were ok, but not the same band we all fell in love with in the 60's and 70's.
  • KYTrips
    Joined:
    1974
    I will go out on a limb here and officially declare the 1974 show as the first "miss" of this embarrassment of riches known as 30 Trips Around the Sun. First of all, there are a few sound-related issues that I had to overcome. The overall sound "quality" is very good, but I definitely thought that Jerry's guitar was too low in the mix (who does that... puts Jerry's guitar low in the mix?!!!?) and then there is the issue with the vocals for the first 2 songs of the second set ("Loose Lucy" and "Big River") which are missing. I mean... they're there, but they're apparently not being picked up by the mic intended to pick them up or they didn't make it to the recorder... Whatever's going on, they're not to be heard in these recordings, unless you lean into the speaker and hear them buried somewhere off in the distance. In any event, it annoys me, and I think it spoils what would have otherwise been a pretty decent "Loose Lucy" (one of my faves). In addition, this show contains a between sets "Seastones." Not my favorite in any case. So... this show was fighting an uphill battle for me. The show kinda begins with the boys being a bit sloppy. The "Uncle John's Band" opener is nice, but uneven. "Jack Straw", "Friend of the Devil" and "Black-Throated Wind" are all unremarkable. The standalone "Scarlet Begonias" is a notch up from the previous songs, but that tune was still really finding its legs in the Dead's repertoire in '74. The next 5 tunes are again, unremarkable. The first CD ends with a nice "To Lay Me Down." I have to admit, I'm partial to this song. I've always loved it and thought it was underrated as a Dead song. The first set ends with a 23+ minute Playing In the Band which is good, but again, nothing special for this era. Then we are faced with "Seastones" and the aural problems mentioned previously to start the second set. A good "Peggy O" and an unremarkable "Me and My Uncle" round out Disc 2. The meat of this show (and presumably, the reason it was included in 30 TATS) is in Disc 3. Things finally take off with a wonderful "Eyes of the World" and the rest of the show is pretty darn good. Highlights for me included the Truckin' > Drums > Caution Jam sequence, which is pretty hot. The "Drums" is particularly interesting in that in addition to Billy on drums, Phil is also participatory in the part of the show. "Ship of Fools" is really nice and smooth and the "Johnny B. Goode" to close the set is also pretty smokin'. "U.S. Blues" is a good encore and a nice way to round out the evening. I'll be brutally honest... I don't think this show would have ever merited release on it's own, so it was, in my opinion, thrown into this box set. I certainly hope it's not the best there is remaining in the vault from 1974. However, I'd be less than honest if I didn't acknowledge that the third disc of the show is pretty darn good. But it certainly was my least favorite show thus far in the box. Grade: C+
  • KYTrips
    Joined:
    1973
    It took me a little while longer to get to this review than I would have liked... Life's been busy with vacation and then I was in trial for a week (I'm an attorney... don't throw rocks), so my listening has been sporadic for the past few weeks. At any rate, let me start off by saying that this show is a total GEM!! Although I don't think it's the best of the box, so far, I do think it might be my favorite so far. It starts off again with a "Big Railroad Blues" which to me is a sign of good things to come (see my review from 1972). The next few songs (Jack Straw, Sugaree, Mexicali Blues) are all good, but nothing special. After all, it's just the first set. But then, this show morphs into a classic. "Here Comes Sunshine" is one of those songs that I absolutely love, and that I feel the band didn't play often enough. Accordingly, it was, in my opinion, a treat when it did show up in a setlist. Well... this one may be the best HCS EVER! It's so melodic and the playing so smooth, with a killer jam in the middle of it. It ebbs and flows nicely and you know from this point going forward that "tonight" is going to be "one of those nights." The other part about this show that is a bit different is that the first set is EPIC in length. It's actually longer than the second set, and the goodies start showing up much earlier than in a typical Dead show. I'm not going to go song-by-song, but the remaining highlights of the first set for me are: an appearance of "The Race Is On"; a very nice "Brown-Eyed Women"; "Tennessee Jed" and a late-first set China>Rider. The first set closes out (more than mid-way through Disc 2) with a hot "Around and Around."As good as the first set is, the second set is even better (although I still think the overall highlight of the show is still the "Here Comes Sunshine" in the first set). Due to timing issues, the second set actually starts on Disc 3, with the final three (3) songs on the set appearing at the end of Disc 2. I definitely recommend listening in the order in which the show was played. And let me tell you, Disc 3 is awesome!!! It is basically a non-stop, continuous 70+ minute jam which begins with an excellent "Truckin'" which then morphs into an unbelievable, three-part "The Other One" sandwich, which has "Big River" and "Eyes of the World" for the filling. It is hypnotic the way the boys weave in and out of "The Other One" throughout this portion of the show, never losing stride and hitting on all cylinders. Finally... the last portion of "The Other One" leads into a great "Wharf Rat", and they finally silence their instruments for a few fleeting moments. The show closes with three (3) stand-alones... "Me and My Uncle" (which seems strange to hear this late in a show), "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad" and "One More Saturday Night". They're all good, but it's almost impossible to top that which just went down in the first 70+ minutes of this set. I definitely see myself coming back to this show over and over in the future. Show grade: "A- to A", depending upon my mood. Again... I don't think it's the best show, so far, but I do think it's my favorite!
  • KYTrips
    Joined:
    Ahhh.... 1972
    If ever there was a more stellar year in GD history, I'm not sure what it would be (okay, okay... I realize this topic is up for debate, but I cast my lot with 1972). That being said, I had really high expectations for this show, as I do almost all '72 shows. This one didn't disappoint. However, I do think that this show will suffer a fate of being underplayed by many Heads, as it's so close in proximity to the DP 11 show from the Stanley Theater in Jersey City that took place 3 nights after this gem. I do think the Stanley Theater show is better, but this one is pretty great too. My only knock on this show... I think the sound is a bit spotty. There's one period in the show where the tape hiss is very audible and a bit distracting until you realize you're just gonna have to deal with it. The show opens with one of my personal faves... "Big Railroad Blues". You know a show is gonna be good when they open with this one. Everything in this show is filled with energy. Hell... I even liked "Mexicali Blues" which to me is usually a snoozer. "Loser" and "Black-Throated Wind" both deliver, while the band takes a bit of a breather in a subpar "Cumberland Blues" in my opinion. "Sugaree" is great (as per usual), and is followed by a consistent run of "El Paso", "Tennesse Jed" and BIODTL. In my opinion, this show REALLY gets rolling when they break into "Bird Song" later in the 1st Set. I've heard much better versions of "Big River", but the first set closes with an awesome "Brown-Eyed Women" and a MONSTER "Playing In the Band." Not bad... and that was just the 1st Set!!!The 2nd Set kills! The boys keep raising the pot (no pun intended) with each subsequent song, starting with "Greatest Story Ever Told" and continuing through "Bertha", "Promised Land", a beautiful "Fried of the Devil" and "Jack Straw". Things fall off a bit when they play "Tomorrow is Forever", a short-lived song in the Dead repertoire for good reason in my opinion. Then they ease back into things with MAMU before they head into "Dark Star" which is sandwiched around a nice little drum solo by Billy. Out of "Dark Star"?... Why yes, I do believe I will take a China Cat>Rider. And it's a good one. The show closes with the Bobby one-two.... "Sugar Magnolia" and "One More Saturday Night". All in all, a great show. Grade: A-
  • Cousins Of The…
    Joined:
    1971??
    I have not gone through the 2nd set of 1971...and yes, I listed 1985 twice, my mistake.
  • One Man
    Joined:
    1971?
    I don't see 1971 on your list. And is something listed twice?
  • Cousins Of The…
    Joined:
    1984!
    I'm usually partial to the 60's and 70s, however this show is tremendous! short but impeccable first set, from beginning to end; second set is quite adventurous, with a long UJB, a standalone Playin' reprise and a killer Morning Dew. My favorite 80's Trip so far. Revising my rankings... 1970 1967 1973 1975 1974 1972 1976 1968 1984 1969 1977 1983 1991 1979 1980 1981 1982 1978 1990 1993 1992 1966 1985 1986 1994 1985 1995 1987 1989 1988
user picture

Member for

17 years 9 months

"When we began discussing audio projects to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead back in 2012, we knew we wanted to do something completely unprecedented. We could think of nothing more exciting or ambitious than a career-spanning overview of the band's live legacy focused on what best tells the story: complete concerts. Our first criterion was the very best live music to represent any given year in the band’s history. We wanted to make sure that there were not only the tent-pole shows that fans have been demanding for decades but also ones that are slightly more under the radar, but equally excellent. For those who listen to the entire box straight through, chronologically, the narrative of the Grateful Dead's live legacy will be seen as second to none in the pantheon of music history." - David Lemieux

We are more than pleased to announce the Grateful Dead's most ambitious release ever: 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN. Available as both an 80-disc boxed set and a custom lightning-bolt USB drive, the collection includes 30 unreleased live shows, one for each year the band was together from 1966 to 1995, along with one track from their earliest recording sessions in 1965. Packed with over 73 hours of music, both the boxed set and the USB drive will be individually numbered limited editions.

The 80-disc boxed set is individually numbered and limited to 6,500 copies, a nod to the band’s formation in 1965. Along with the CDs, it also includes a gold-colored 7-inch vinyl single which bookends the band’s career. The A-side is “Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)” from the band’s earliest recording session in 1965 with the B-side of the last song the band ever performed together live, “Box Of Rain” recorded during their final encore at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 9, 1995.

The box also comes with a 288-page book that features an extensive, career-spanning essay written by Nick Meriwether, who oversees the Dead archives at the University of California, Santa Cruz, along with special remembrances of the band submitted by fans. Also included is a scroll that offers a visual representation of how the band’s live repertoire has evolved through the years.

The USB drive version* will be shaped like a gold lightning bolt with the Grateful Dead 50th anniversary logo engraved on the side. The drive includes all of the music from the collection in both FLAC (96/24) and MP3 formats and is an individually numbered limited edition of 1,000 copies. Digital version of the book also included on USB.

Shows will NOT be sold individually on CD. This release is sure to sell out quickly so pre-order your copy today and stick around as we will be revealing a mighty fine selection of music, art, and much, much more right here.

(Looking for a smaller 50th Anniversary commemorative keepsake? September 18th will see the release of a four-CD version of the collection titled 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN: THE DEFINITIVE LIVE STORY 1965-1995. More on that here.)

ROLLINGSTONE.COM SONG PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE DAVID LEMIEUX INTERVIEW
Head on over to Rollingstone.com for the very first listen of "Morning Dew" 9/18/87 Madison Square Garden, David Fricke's exclusive interview with archivist David Lemieux, and the reveal of 30 TRIPS AROUND THE SUN's '69 and '84 shows.

*Helpful hints for using your USB:

Running the 30 Trips Player / Reader program:
On Windows – Navigate to the USB drive and double click the PCStart.exe file to run.
On MacOS – Open the GD 30 Trips drive, and double click the MacStart to run.

Viewing the digital book:
You can either view it within the program that comes on the drive, or by opening the PDF directly.

To view the PDF, open the PDF folder on the drive and the USB_bk_spreads_08-31 file within. Selecting the option within your PDF reading application to view as a “single page” might be preferable to viewing as a continuous document.

Importing music into iTunes and other library programs:
When you import the songs from the USB into your library, the information used to identify the track will likely leave them sorted incorrectly. Please use the song list found here to re-number the songs for each show so that they playback in the correct order.
PDF
Text

user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

I have been wondering, does anyone think we will ever see any $100.00 box sets again?
user picture

Member for

12 years 5 months
Permalink

Hopefully we get a March 77 Winterland box for $100 But I think they may eventually at least as far as I am concerned "jump the shark" & present a $1,000 box. The demand is there and we are not so far off.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

9 years 10 months
Permalink

Depends on what you call those Chicago packages, it's a matter of semantics. If you think it was ok to sell a 2700 dollar experience consisting of a vip lounge, poster and shuttle ride from your hotel and require an additional ticket purchase, and that this isn't scalping, no problem I guess. I'd say that this isn't any different than buying extra box sets and then selling them for what the market will bear. Ymmv.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

....if you are not interested in the whole package as a collectable item (I am not), then who in their right mind, or even pretty wasted mind, would ever pay one penny for any single disc? I mean every single show will be available on youtube that afternoon, and in higher quality on assorted sites, that same week. Pay $65 for a mastered recording of a '93 dead show?!? Hell, you can actually send any digital version of any show you have to any number of websites these days and get it mastered for free! A guess the whole relationship/attitude towards Dead show collecting is different if your relationship with the band is also later than the period when you got copies of shows for free from folks like me who recorded live. $65 for a show, the mind doth boggle! I would LOVE to throw a garage sale and have all the folks willing to pay this show up, I would be a millionaire at the end of the day!
user picture

Member for

13 years 5 months
Permalink

Yes, we will most definitely see $100 box sets again. These shows come to mind: - April '69 Ark? - Dec '69 Ark???? - Aug '72 Berkeley Community Theatre? - Oct '72 Fox Theatre? - Jun '80 Midnight Sun ?? There's half a decade's worth. I would gamble with the pre-order gnomes for each and every one of these offerings.
user picture

Member for

11 years 7 months
Permalink

allman I truly hope so. This is a special occasion thing. The last huge box was what? 2-3 years ago. The May 77 box was a very well put together concept at a very good price I felt. Even the Spring 90 boxes seemed a lot to me and I skipped them. This box for a lack of a better term has it all. This is the gift that will keep on truckin' for awhile. But I do hope and believe this is as big as it will get for some time. Ugh isn't there a new Jerry release coming out soon too?
user picture

Member for

10 years 4 months
Permalink

It's tough to say how many should have been produced. The only thing I think I can say without having statistics at my disposal, is that the record company wants to make as much money as possible without sitting around with overstock in their warehouse. I think we would need the following data on every LIVE box set they've produced in the past: 1) How much did it cost to produce the box set (per unit cost)? 2) What was the price tag of the box set to the consumer? 3) How many units of each box set were produced in the past? 4) How many units were sold of each box set each week, until it sold out? 5) How much other product was produced in the past year (this would impact the market's available capital). 6) Compare statistics from the period of the bands career that the box set spanned (i.e. 1977 vs 1990 for example) 7) Compare statistics from the overall price tag (i.e. $199 vs $450, etc) So, I would need to know a lot more about the past numbers to make an intelligent guess at the right number. I'm sure there are other valuable pieces of data that could be used from the past to project a good number, but I don't actually get paid for this, so I'm going to stop at what seems immediately obvious to me. It must be a difficult task for Rhino - they're dealing with a band like no other, in terms of the profile of their followers and the quality of their music (by quality, I mean every show is unique - as someone pointed out earlier with Yes - 7 shows of the same set list performed the exact same way is a much different story than what we get with the Grateful Dead). The two big x factors I see in this particular release: price tag and the years it covers. $700 is a lot more to consider spending on this than the $450 on Europe '72, so it's in a class of its own. And the years of the band's career that this box set encompasses is unique, as it combines all eras (and clearly there are market stratums that exist with this band). I will say this - I read in interviews with both Dave Lemieux and Dr Rhino that Europe '72 sales far exceeded expectations. That tells me there is a certain "I don't f@#kin know" factor to all of this, that even the professionals at Rhino can't account for, as demonstrated by the comment made in the advertisement for this box set, that the number 6500 represents the year the band came into existence. They guy who wrote that is going to read my comments and offer me a job most likely.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 2 months
Permalink

...the historical importance of this box. It has none. The Europe '72 box definitely does, which is why I had my library purchase it. This is just a collection of random shows, happens to be one from each year, so what? This is a case of manufactured, both literally and figuratively, importance. If you happen to like this selection of shows, and happen to like most/all of them, and happen to have a pretty big cookie jar, well go for it, but don't think you are getting some document of historical interest.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years 8 months
Permalink

"Don't think you're getting a document of historical interest." It seems this box does have a great deal of historical signifance to many fans, not just DL. The span of years, variety of musical incarnations, in addition to the continually evolving nature of their live performances, give this box a very unique look into the band's performing history.
user picture

Member for

10 years 11 months
Permalink

appears to be an academic... certainly a researcher - nonetheless, an interesting point of view
user picture

Member for

12 years 1 month
Permalink

....Just to keep the record straight, it's K-Tel, with one L!! I have many of their fine LP's in my collection. :-)
user picture

Member for

9 years 10 months
Permalink

Just curious - if there were no other official releases available from the Grateful Dead, would you say that 30 Trips has historical significance?
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

13 years 10 months
Permalink

Most of your analysis factoring in the unknown stats, x-factor, and Dave and Dr. Rhino's "We do this for a living and even we get @#$%ing stumped on the amount of product to release in limitation" are what crossed my mind too; but, I am too slow of a typist to focus long enough to get it done( I should work for Dead.net customer service!). Who the hell knows?!?! Yes you should indeed be offered a job in 'loan-enforcement.' Perhaps a pre-order deposit of 25% before they decide on the final number of 6500 or whatever? Build it and they come?
user picture

Member for

15 years 2 months
Permalink

No CD or CD set -- not this one, not Europe 1972 -- qualifies as a document of historical interest. It's a peak in the heights of pretension to claim one set does and the other does not. The original master recordings, at least some of them, potentially. Your retail CDs? Nope.
user picture

Member for

15 years 2 months
Permalink

The right number of copies to produce? If the set sells out in under 48 hours, it was too few (most Dave's Picks, and hence the reason for the gentle annual creep in the production run). If you're still hawking the set after 6 months, it was too many (Spring 1990 TOO). Anything in between there is pretty damn good (most every other limited release). When they get a weekend in on this one, and when they get a change to run the inevitable Sirius XM special touting the boxset, then we'll see what happens. I'm betting they called it pretty well, once again. If they don't sell out before the July shows, I have no doubt they'll unload the rest during that run.
user picture

Member for

17 years 6 months
Permalink

There is a record shop in the UK advertising pre-orders of 30 trips for £799.98 .... at today's rate that works out to $1230 !
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

13 years 10 months
Permalink

With the multiple order snafus factored in RRot you are probably right that they judged this one correctly. Some of the initial sales reports reminded me of painful TicketBastard skullduggery in which as soon as the ticket sales start they sell mediocre seats to induce 'panic buying.' And the great tickets go to the 'secondary-market' almost immediately. Regarding the secondary ticket market and Fare Thee Well, I hope a lot of tickets get kicked back to the box office 'the day of.' Don't' these profiteers know that there are heads who would not even pay the Core Four face value if Phil, Bob, bill and Mick were personally selling tix on ShakeDown Street?
user picture

Member for

9 years 10 months
Permalink

This is just too good to pass up - My question to Grateful Prof still stands - if there were no other official releases available from the Grateful Dead, would you say that 30 Trips has historical significance? And to rrot - If all Grateful Dead live master tapes were destroyed in a fire (or lost on somebody's houseboat for years uncounted), would any one CD set (Europe '72 Complete) qualify as historically significant?
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 8 months
Permalink

Another cost factor for them to analyze is the cost of warehousing. This would include cost of the square footage required to store and labor required to maintain inventory. There is certainly a cost associated with housing inventory for years on end. Perhaps not a huge number but one that adds up over time. The Terrapin Limited release for example; that release is almost 20 years old now and still in stock/inventory. Someone has been paying costs including utilities and maybe even rent to store those things. It all has to be accounted for if you really want to mind your costs and be profitable.
user picture

Member for

15 years 11 months
Permalink

Discs have to be made, this costs money. Books have to be printed, this costs money. Boxes have to be made, this costs money. Artwork has to be commissioned, this costs money. Restoration work on 80CDs worth of music, tons of time and no one will do that work for free. Mastering the CD costs money. Printing out the scroll that no one will look at twice costs money. Licensing fees for all those cover tunes. It all adds up. Lot of upfront costs to put something like this together. Lots of production costs to put something like this out. They're not exactly sitting on a goldmine here. The price is totally justified. How much does a single disc new release cost? Multiply that by 80, yeah. Stop whining.
user picture

Member for

16 years 2 months
Permalink

It pains me to think about left over stock. What happens to this stuff? Does it just sit and rot away? Does it get thrown away?
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 6 months
Permalink

I'm sure they will, as they did for the Europe 72 set. And, if only they could put them up on the website, so we can use them without having to scan them... I find it really cheap of them to not provide artwork with each release.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

I think / hope that everyone who reads / posts here is a fan of the GD. I certainly hope trolls don't come here just to create trouble but who knows? I myself do not have enough time in my life for something like that on any site. Rhino has been in business for 37 years and has been a partner with the Dead for the past 10 years. I have to think they know a little more about selling merchandise then I do. Call me crazy if you don't agree with that. I am sure that every single release that comes out will have detractors, whether for price, content, artwork, or something. There will also be those who feel they are entitled to everything for free. That is not just the case in this world the last time I looked. This box is very fairly priced considering what you are getting. If it is too expensive for you, I am sorry about that. I really do feel for the true Head who cannot afford it. When the E'72 box came out I could not afford that, so I passed on it. Did I come on here and complain that it was too expensive? No, I did not. I just manned up, kept my mouth shut and envied those who were able to order it at that time. Thankfully this time I am taking the plunge, even though once again it will be a bit of a stretch for my wallet. Coming on here and expressing your views is fine, but let's all try to remember that not every release will be perfect for everybody. This argument of eras is ludicrous in my mind. I am a fan of the good ol' Grateful Dead. I think that every single release / show has some merit and showcases the band on that given night. I want to hear them all, warts & all. That is what makes this band unique. They don't take everything back to the studio and cover up mistakes. You get it the way they played it that day. If today's show did not float your boat, come back to tomorrow's show and give it another shot. Dick Latvala said it best. Caveat emptor. I for one am never disappointed. This box is what a lot of us have been asking for. A complete 30 year joy ride. Sit back and enjoy! Rock on
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

9 years 6 months
Permalink

I'm currently wrestling with my conscience, debit card in hand! Why can't they provide some photos of what's inside the box! I'm not overly keen on the artwork to be honest. Most importantly I dont want to buy it and find out its disks inside some elaborate pack that just slip in and out... If they are stand alone packages inside like E72 was than holy shit, I'm in! I'm slightly worried that this may not be the case however... Dave and co know they have a problem with people buying releases and then scalping them on ebay for profit. Here we have 30 releases of which many people only want some... The scalping opporunity is HUGE! I'm wondering if they may have decided to have all disks in some elaborate box containing slip cases without each show having its own packaging (think a BIG So Many Roads Box Set). This would solve the scalping problem, who wants to buy 3 loose disks?? Is this why they haven't shown us the contents of the box? I know that if it were apparent this was the case with this release than many people would not buy, me included. Does anyone think this could be true??
user picture

Member for

15 years 2 months
Permalink

If everything else in the world -- master reels, everyone's discs, cassettes and LPs, the archive.org servers and everyone's computer backups -- were destroyed in a conflagration caused by the collision of the Earth with a giant comet, and only my back-up CDr of disc 4 from the Fillmore box set survived (because I buried it deep in the backyard along with my Archie & Veronica comic book collection -- just in case of such a calamitous event! -- would that CDr be a valuable historical document?? I dunno. Better call in a professor!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 10 months
Permalink

Not to belabor the point too much, but my guess is that the CD's, printed material, licensing fees, mastering costs, marketing cost, and employment of the engineers is roughly half the cost of each set. Add to the fact that Rhino paid $10 Million for the rights to vault, there is not a ton of profit in this for them. Maybe, 25% at best. It is just crazy to think that people would complain about that.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

10 years 8 months
Permalink

Hmmmmm, good point...... God I hope not.... I had envisioned each show being in a beautiful stand alone pack with liner notes..... Shit.....
user picture

Member for

15 years 3 months
Permalink

Usually does not get thrown away, but ends up in discount bins...remember LPs with bb holes, or cut corners? They were leftover dead stock.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

9 years 6 months
Permalink

Well in terms of liner notes... When I read there was a 288 page booklet it started to get me worried, I automaticaly presumed that this would contain a chronological run of liner notes about each year and then the show. What in the hell else are they going to be talking about for 288 pages! So with that in mind I doubt there will be seperate liner notes for each show, which then made me think well it would be stupid to have seperate packaging for each show but with all the liner notes in one big book. If all your liner notes are in one place then surely you would [ut all the disks in that same place. This is what got me very suspicious that this box set may end up to be a big picnic hamper with fold out slip sleeves for the disks and the big book inside. I hope this is not the case but if it is then I don't think I'll be buying it. The problem is I bet they succeed in scare mongering everyone into preordering before this fact comes to light. I pray that I am wrong *EDIT* If each of these 30 'trips' is in its own slip sleeve resembling tabs of acid I will be physicaly sick! Reason I love the whole Dave Picks Series is each show gets its own moment in the spotlight which is no less than these great shows deserve!
user picture

Member for

15 years 3 months
Permalink

I don't think this box is overpriced at all. I have no problem with Grateful Dead Merchandising or Rhino. I have tons of GD merchandise all of high quality bought at fair prices and delivered to my door. Hell yeah! I'm not buying this box because it's not worth $700 to me. Overpriced is solely defined by the market. Overpriced doesn't sell.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

Hola!! Not sure how many are left, but just pulled the plug. Continue my string of buying every official release as a matter of good faith for the bounty of freebies the Boys have laid on us over 50 years. A bit disappointed as really was hoping for Lexington 4.21.78, not just because only time they played my hometown, but as So Many Roads shows with Stella, it is a strong show. But, that is quibbling . . . thank you DL2! Anyway, I only use debit cards, so ended up having to get my bank to increase my anti-fraud online limit I set of $500 last year, and forgot about it! So, I had to say a little prayer last evening the run would not be totally sold out by today. Thanks again DL2! You continue to show your impeccable taste and vision and its appreciated. My only criticism . . . GO INSIDE FOR YOUR DANG VIDEOS! As an attorney, I will happily negotiate this item into your employment contract . . . only make listenable videos! DCFOH It's time. Kentucky Scott PS to folks going to Shytown - HAVE A BALL! Wish I was going but didn't score on mail order. Oh well, the stories will be good to hear. Having attended the 2002 GD Reunion at Alpine, I know you'll have fun . . . though hard to imagine topping that extravaganza Deadpalooza: every core 4's own band; two nights of the Core 4 as The Dead; a temporary Dead memorabilia museum; release of McNally's book with a signing; our own "newspaper" both days; interviews with Ramrod, Parrish, Mountain Girl, Candace, etc . . . and getting to actually meet and mingle with them and more in the general area (I watched all of Billy's band with her in a near empty shell). Oh well, enjoy!
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

Dave said he doesn't think he has ever seen a better presentation then this box. I think each show will be packaged separately like the Spring '90 boxes.I certainly hope so anyway. Rock on
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

15 years 6 months
Permalink

Too much "I wanna tell you how its' gonna be" and not enough "One man gathers what another man spills" on this issue.
user picture

Member for

15 years 2 months
Permalink

Might need some audience patches, but June 6/4-7/70 Fillmore West would make another great one.
user picture

Member for

12 years 6 months
Permalink

You keep on defending the price which is certainly your right. And yesterday you were posting that there are less than 900 left & they'll be gone by Thursday. And saying that whomever does not pull the trigger will feel bad & most certainly pay more for it on Ebay. Well I do feel bad that I can't afford to pull the trigger. But I also think that if indeed it sells out soon, then that somehow justifies your own purchase. It's a little off putting hearing the get it while you can or you'll pay more later on. It certainly is a treasure chest of goodies & I am happy you are getting it. I'm guessing that it was probably painful to see the E72 sell out, that is how a few of us will feel when this sells out. I am guessing that most of the people who are on these boards are true fans & even more so the Heads that buy up all these releases. This is a Forum for Dead Heads but really it's the GD/Rhino site to promo all the new releases that are for sale. So I doubt there are trolls looking to cut people down. I also apologize if I come off that way. Unfortunately I do have a little bit of sarcasm in me every now & then. I am grateful for this site & for the chance to voice an opinion every now & then.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

11 years 6 months
Permalink

Just sent you a PM.
user picture

Member for

15 years 2 months
Permalink

Get a grip. Wait a minute. Maybe you're right. In fact, maybe you're not paranoid enough by half! What if -- now hear me out! -- what if it's just 80 discs thrown into a Clarks' shoebox with a stealie sicker on it. And the discs are just crammed between the pages of the 288 page book??? Sure, you might think, well, a book that big won't shift around too much in transit -- at least if the shoes were originally of a narrow width, I mean -- so that will keep the discs protected. But, DO WE REALLY WANT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE!?!!??!???
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

No hard feelings. I guess maybe I am a bit amped so please excuse me for that, but it is nothing more then my enthusiasm for this release and for Dead music in general. I do not work for Rhino but I do feel this set, while expensive, is priced reasonably. And yes, the count I had yesterday was incorrect due to the computer snafu on Tuesday when folks were actually getting multiple orders. No one can defend Rhino for that screw up! Totally inexcusable for such a company. And I also think that while I love Dave's videos outside, if he cannot do a better job with the wind then it is time for a new venue for his announcements. I look forward to those too, but the beginning of this one is almost enough to make me bag it. The wait between now and the end of Sept. is going to be a long one. Good thin we have DaP15 before then. Rock on
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

15 years 6 months
Permalink

Priced reasonably and priced affordably are not synonymous terms. This is priced reasonably in terms of cost relative to volume of value being provided, even if it is not priced affordably for many.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

13 years 10 months
Permalink

Hey Dennis funny stuff. And do you have K-Tel's Box Car Willie Lp? Real Gone Music does not. Can you engage in copyright infringement and somehow burn me a cdr of an Lp? Or am being Dumberer? Will the FBI or the ghosts of Pinkerton Rail-Road Detectives working on behalf of Mr E.H. Harriman of The Union Pacific Railroad kick in my door and arrest me? LOL! K-Tel now there was a Co. that knew how to advertise and get the numbers right. K-tel brings back memories. With all of the whining about whining, or is it bitching, together with the short term memory issues of DHeads both inside Dead.net and outside I am not very concerned with what people write here and their reactions -- they won't even remember it the day after yesterday, uh, I think.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

Any ideas which shows may have more content than what we know? It seems 7/3/66, 10/20/68, and 4/15/70 are top contenders for extra songs.
user picture

Member for

16 years 3 months
Permalink

I would like to see this as a "Music Only Edition" and at a cheaper price, similar to the Europe 72 Complete Recordings, that is still available thru dead.net. Or the individual shows, a la carte those shows are still available. I can do without the book , 7" vinyl single or the scroll, the Music is the most important item here, and it always was, and will be for me.I LIKE THE SELECTION OF SHOWS IN THIS RELEASE.
user picture

Member for

16 years 8 months
Permalink

This Box Set is something else man.What, no vinyl release? Just a little joke (Very little…) But seriously, I would like to own some of my favorite attended New England shows included in 30 Trips without some of the other years as many in this forum have stated. Cape Cod '79, Augusta'84, Oxford'88 stick out for me. If anyone is piecing out their own set, Do let me know via PM please and thanks. shwack in nh
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

11 years 5 months
Permalink

Looks like about 2390 left. Still got time, for folks who need to save up.
product sku
081227955892